Throughout this paper all three treatments will be evaluated and explored through scientific evidence so that a single or combined treatment can be suggested to sufferers of this condition to alleviate symptoms. Whilst exploring the three treatments mentioned above it is important to note that there is no cure for ADHD only methods of treatment and individual reactions or outcomes that may vary considerably. For example approximately 25% of children with the condition fail to respond to favourably to stimulant medication (Dupaul, GJ. Barkley, RA. Connor, DF. 1998)
Another common treatment for ADHD is behavioural therapy. This treatment for ADHD has gathered vast amounts of evidence towards its credibility as a treatment. It is however very difficult to control the variables for the test subjects outcomes within each study. In a study by (Pelham et al. 2000) results showed little difference in results of individuals medicated with methylphenidate and individuals undergoing a combination of medication and behavioural therapy. However this study also found that unmedicated children were less liked by their peers even after undergoing intense behavioural treatment mainly focussed on improving peer relationships. This study continues to explain some of the constraints of behavioural therapy and their possible relationship to the lack of positive results from similar studies. Issues such as cost, time and parental and teacher compliance and dedication allow for substandard or defective results from behavioural therapy. Alistair & Wood (1999) reinforce this concept and state that the potential of behavioural therapies is restricted as they are labour intensive and are only broadly effective as they ‘can’t be generalised to non-target behaviour or across settings.
Many studies have shown that when intensive behavioural therapy is implemented, medication doses may be decreased to a minimal dose as low as 0.3mg/kg bodyweight (Alistair & Wood 1999, Pelham et al....